The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-13
THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY.
Governor Gordon Reopens the
Convict Lease Investigation.
" CONVICTS WORKED BY STARLIGHT

I'm the order appointing us a counsel. we
are instructed not to confine ourselves to tho
ono oharge Of thurman vyhinn;n~ bv pinnI,on,
W. 80 o. " . =" i'bpiii'? W i'i:iSlit'ni'
W. present other hiaglers, ana IN auultion 10
otner tillilgs present the proaa proPosllon that
the present leSSeeS of No. aud 3 hold their
contracts W thout any shadow of law or title,
and have no more right to those contracts than
anv other man. N--''''
SSJr sell - ,a A. s,,. -,
mr., omith here read tho following amend
menls winch were made to the grounds here
tolore MED as reasons for yacating the lease:
The third ground is amended as follows: Convicts
have been worked other than in Mines canals
roads, quarr1es and brckmaking and away from
the place or site known as the penentary, as here
mater stated: In Oglethorpe county by James ii.
Smltn IN general routine work of farming constant
ly during the past two years. At Greston, in the
work OF sawmilling constantly during 1885, In
near Cedartown, at work running iron furnaces
the Central railroad, cutting logs timber or wood
during 1852 and 1856, and at many otherplaces not
herein particularly specified
The sixth ground is amended as follows They
nave worked and permitted conviets to work the
Sabbath day frequently and constantly at rising
FaWh curing 1856 and 1857
Al q camp near Augusta, Ga oonviets working
for and actually in the custody of W. b. Lowe and
Bondurant and Joplin were SO insuiciently ted,and
SO without the proper selection of ODD, and the
camp and Its management in such bad sanitary
condition. during the years 1ss6 and 1887 as to de-
velop scurvy and cause the to prevail general
~ among the convies to such an extent as to
seriously impair the health and endanger the lives
OF many o. the cohVle's, ana led to the death OF
was caused and sonTyv nroin"nd fTo,o No Nm
of no er food f5rthe cdnycs during the year ISIS
At lie camp on the Macon and GovinSton rail
road conyicts deprived of fresh meat and veg
eaoleS Tor two weeks or more in the month of Jan
uary, 1857.
d o o mp Bnghe IN Spang county the bed
become dirty and lthy and unit even for tbe nse Of
conyicts -
Three conviots afflicted with chronic diseases
were Kept at lamp McCue away from any hospital
lor any months alter they became too unWell to
%orh to the great injury to the health and danger
Peter a oson T' was Kent "t work for ontbs rir
the winter Of 1ss1 and 1SS6 with n sonad Under "
L. smith, near Odtown, and long after he was en-.
f e5led by disease and unfit and unable to work.
ara hnally was sent to Oldtown IN SO exhausted a
codl.l0n that ne olea Wlthln lew days thereafter
W. tga s t upon LIS DacN he Dore Hesh marks
Thr rle the re msnanacement and unfoitbm,
treatment of the conycts BY the essees or by those
who have undertaken to succeed the lessees, has
manifested itself IN the birth of NJ me1ous bastard
cmlaIen, begotten ana bonn during the terms OF
ioinaU e Oh women unuer tne e3iltIoi OF the
are tho f6Iinwna 10 'ie inS'"ii'eS WHICH iieh'onoo
Laura Heard. In 1885, at Camp Oldtown.
Susan Gilbert at Chnttahoochee Brick company
and under assignment to company No. g. several
children;
J5sigS M Ha!et, aC onatICocnee nrlcR CONF any
sna WhifG1H of Chottahapchsse r. rc o nn1 vn1u
and under assignment to company No. . one ehild'
The first witness introduced by the state was
T.,
from Carroll county.
In reply to questions, Slaughter told the fol-
lowing story
"IIave been four years in penitentiary. three
weeks ago was at work at Camp Bingham ON
Georgia Midland road. Was whipped ON 10Th
of August by Captain Bingham, Cause of
whining was difficulty with another convict
mot importantly. Was placed across q barrel,
held by the four guards maming them) and
whipped with strap. DON'T know how MANY
l;aI-c
BUT THG BLOOD WAS MADE TO RUN.
"The blood ran down my legs. and when I
would get up after being whipped pants would
stick to me. Whipped Friday night and was
kept at work until following Tuesday night
Principal keeper came down then and ordered
those Whipped. to be kept from work, but did
not stop until next day. On the cross-exami-
nation, conducted by MIR. Hill, he said:
''Was sent from Carroll county for attempt
to rape. Party was q white girl grown. Am
not guilty. Sent for twelve years, have served
about four. Never convict before. When
whipped no one present save guards and con-
victs the latter helped to hold me. I was
sleeping when Bingham came in. Reason why
! resisted was
BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE SIX MEN TO HOLD
any man whipped like I was. Explained
the fight with convict Did not know / was to
be whipped until Bingham came in. Fight
with convict took place on july 3Ist 4 was
Whipped on August 18th
On the cross examination bv Smith, witt
ness told about beng at Chattahoocheo brick
yard when Lockett was there, and that Lock-
EFT had struck him with his fists
That he was sent from Screven county for
manslaughtcr. Was whipped on August 18th.
Told Of the conversation with the guard or Of
halai that led TO his whipping. He had been
cur >, and had said If he was FREQ he would
not axe it, Was whipped for 1t, The last
one whipped. Was laid ON barrel and beat
WITH STRAP WELL SOAKED AND DRAGGED IN
THE SAND:
Every time 1t hit the skin came Went to
work next morning throwing, dirt Could not
work; wounds panied mo, and every movement
made clothes rub raw places" Corroborated
Slaughter about being kept at work until
Tuesday.
when ordered out next morning Bingham
stood at door and struck right and left with
strap OF the men. Some were hit, but got out
safe. He did that sort of whipping every now
and then; did not know what for.
Gam mot well yet; working kept places
raw" Said that Bingham threatened to whip
more Of them the same way.
"Ran away from home when about twelve;
took name of Mobley; Anderson Blocker right
name. Worked on turpentine farm; got into
difficulty there with negro, and sent up for
voluntary manslaughter." Narrated times,
places, who had whipped him while in peni-
Tertiary. "Was whipped at ChattahOochee
,a,,,,, T., t,oa.,,,. r 81